Dallas Stars Blog

Scouting the enemy _ NY Islanders _ Lots of decisions for Isles

The New York Islanders are at a crucial point in their season. In addition to coming off two straight losses in which they allowed a combined 11 goals, they also have some tough choices to make.

First of all, goalie Al Montoya has allowed 10 goals in the last two games and might be hitting his first real slump of the season. Montoya came on in relief of an injured Rick DiPietro and beat the Stars, 5-4, on Dec. 5. But, veteran goalie Evgeni Nabokov is apparently recovered from a groin injury. So do the Islanders play Montoya or Nabokov against the Stars on Thursday at Nassau War Memorial Coliseum?

The Islanders still are without forward Nino Niederreiter, who suffered a concussion when he was hit by Stars defenseman Mark Fistric when the two teams played Dec. 5 in Dallas. Fistric is eligible to play in this game after being suspended for three games.

While the Islanders have a 9-13-6 record for a .429 points percentage (27th in the NHL), GM Garth Snow still believes this team can make a rally and make the playoffs. To set the reality of that, let’s use 95 points as a sure playoff ticket. If the Islanders need 95 points, they need 71 points in the final 54 games, or a .760 points percentage. That’s a high bar to climb, but Snow believes if the team can get to .500, it can better grasp the reality of the playoffs.

“Our goal is to get to .500 and get ourselves in the playoffs,” Snow told Newsday. “The group that we have can win on any given night. We’re a lot like several teams across the league where we do have some players out with injury. That’s something that the good teams and playoff teams deal with.”

Matt Moulson, who had four goals against the Stars Dec. 5, has two goals and two assists in four games since, so he has been on a roll.